Tag Archives: New Zealand

Lansdowne Estate, Pinot Gris 2014, Wairarapa, New Zealand

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New Zealand already has a great reputation for good Sauvignon Blanc and excellent Pinot Noir. I recently tasted one of the finest Pinot Gris, it was Oastbrook vineyard in the UK. This one from Wairarapa in the North Island of New Zealand under pins my belief that cool climate Pinot Gris can be amazing. This got a well deserved silver medal at the IWSC awards.

There are aromas and flavours of lemon, pear, vanilla and honey. Its a rich golden yellow colour and rich in flavour. The length is a little short but it’s a small complaint. For the most part the intense flavour is wonderful, have it with cheese and just enjoy. There are no doubt better ones out there but I did like this very much. At about £14 a bottle its fair value.
Lansdowne Estate, Pinot Gris 2014, Wairarapa, New Zealand

Lansdowne Estate, Pinot Gris 2014, Wairarapa, New Zealand

 

Lidl’s Winemaker’s Selection, Aerate Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand.

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Lidl do some great and interesting wines, they do some ropy wine as well.

Is this a good and bad sparkling wine? The plastic cap that you have to peel off is not a good start and I would urge Lidl to get rid of that idea. The wine on the other hand is a surprise. Its really half decent. A sparkling NZ Sauvignon Blanc with all the usual flavours of gooseberry, citrus and with high acidity. Its dry, refreshing and at £10 a bottle very good value.

Lidl's Winemaker's Selection, Aerate Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand.

Lidl’s Winemaker’s Selection, Aerate Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand.

Mohua, Pinot Noir 2015, Central Otago, New Zealand

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First they did excellent Sav Blanc and now New Zealand do excellent Point Noir.

With notes on the nose of flora, roasted peppers and cherries with undertones of pepper and coco you get a sense that this is a fine Pinot Noir. Flavours are lighter than the aromas, red fruit and oak come through with a fair bit of acidity. The tannins are smooth and this makes it very enjoyable.

I would have liked to try it with food, chicken or beef but on its own its lovely. The only downside is the £20 price tag per bottle. Its the price you pay for New Zealand Pinot Noir but it will put many people off.

Mohua, Pinot Noir 2015, Central Otago, New Zealand

Mohua, Pinot Noir 2015, Central Otago, New Zealand

Clocktower, Pinot Noir 2015, New Zealand

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Light red fruit on the aromas and a browning of the colour points to this being a bit over it. 2015 Pinot Noir should have been fine but in reality this should have been drunk by year 2 or 3. There’s a fair bit of cherry, redcurrant, raspberry bit its very light. You get hints of coffee and coco but you have to really think about it.

It got a Commended at the Decanter Wine Wine Awards in 2017, which I would say was right for now but possibly a bronze back in 2017.

Clocktower, Pinot Noir 2015, New Zealand

Clocktower, Pinot Noir 2015, New Zealand

Russian Jack, Pinot Noir 2017, New Zealand

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New Zealand wine was made on the back of some excellent Sauvignon Blanc, Cloudy Bay and Greywacke to name 2.

Pinot Noir is another excellent wine that New Zealand produces and so far I’ve not had a bad bottle, you do get some poor NZ Sav Blanc now a days. Russian Jack is Majestic wine in house NZ Pinot Noir and at £13 a bottle it’s not a cheap NZ Pinot Noir.

You get a fair amount of red fruit, strawberry, redcurrant, plum, cherry, both on the nose and in the mouth. It’s dry with an earthy undertone but it’s a little light all round. There’s little tannins and it’s quite smooth. At £10 or under this would be great but for 3 or 4 pounds more you can get better. Personal I would say nice, but spend a bit more.

Russian Jack, Pinot Noir 2017, New Zealand

Russian Jack, Pinot Noir 2017, New Zealand

Wooing Tree, Pinot Noir 2014, Central Otago, New Zealand

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This was a winner of a Gold Medal at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2017 and a bronze medal winner from the 2018 Decanter World Wine Awards. The 2017 vintage of this got a Gold medal at the 2019 DWWA. The 2014 is better than bronze.

There’s ripe red fruit, cherries, plums with a vanilla and spice undertone. On the palate this wine has supple, soft tannins and a decant balance of dryness, fruit flavours and body. 

The only issue I have with is the £30 price tag. Its very good but your only going be drinking this on special occasions. Thats a real shame as very people will get to try this.

Wooing Tree, Pinot Noir 2014, Central Otago, New Zealand

Wooing Tree, Pinot Noir 2014, Central Otago, New Zealand LP

Matua Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014, Central Otago, New Zealand

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New Zealand does Pinot Noir as good as the best in the world. There is wonderful red fruit on the nose. It’s silky smooth, elegant and quite light, yet there are deep complex flavours with hints of dark berries with a touch of pepper and spices. Great levels of acidity, tannins excellent length and a perfect finish.

As you get the idea I loved this wine, I’m surprised it only got a silver medal at the IWSC, for me this is so Gold or above. The only downside is the price at over £30 a bottle which would put people off. Just do it, order it today.

Matua Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014, Central Otago, New Zealand

Matua Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014, Central Otago, New Zealand

 

Sticky – New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc desert wine

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I am a fan of desert wines, sip on their own or have with, well desert, they give that warm, sweet happy feeling. I accept that those feelings could be caused by all the other alcohol drunk earlier in the evening.

Thereare a few excellent desert wines coming from Australia and New Zealand, the Ned, D’arenberg and De Bortoli, who produced a Decanter gold medal winner under the Tesco Finest label a few years ago.

This Sauvignon Blanc from Waihopai Valley is similar to D’arenberg’s Stump Jump Sticky Chardonnay. The grapes have been allowed to hang on the vine for longer allowing them to really ripen and suffer from Botrytis for extra sweetness. There are aromas and flavours of honey, citrus and apricot. The acidity is high but is wonderfully balanced, never drink too much, just sip and enjoy. At £16 for 500ml its very good value.

Sticky - New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc desert wine

Sticky – New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc desert wine

Main Divide, Pinot Noir from New Zealand

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We spent the  on an old sailing barge that sailed out of Ipswich. On the way back to the train station we stopped off at the Majestic Ipswich store. They have a new system there where the wines are ordered in style rather than just country, which makes choosing a wine much much easier. Well done to Majestic for doing something that really helps the average customer.

Chris the manager showed us a wine he had opened for a previous customer called the Main Divide, a Pinot Noir from New Zealand. It had aromas of oak and smoke with black fruit. The the flavours were quite rich, black fruit, spice and a smokey undertone which was refreshing for a Pinot Noir. This was not a weak red but had character. At £20 a bottle it’s not cheap but it is a cracking wine.

Main Divide, Pinot Noir from New

Main Divide, Pinot Noir from New

Lawson Dry Hills Reserve Sauvignon Blanc – New Zealand

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Lawson Dry Hills Sauvignon Blanc was a favourite of ours at one stage. It was one of the the better New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs but like many times we got distracted by the next wine and forgot it. The reserve is even better with aromas and flavours of citrus, ripe apple, peach and gooseberry. It has the usual high acidity but its subtle for New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, more french style but with more lemon notes. Normally you would pair this with sea food but it went very well with a  vegetable stir-fry. At £15 a bottle it’s in the Greywacke price band but I think it holds its own against that iconic wine.

Lawson Dry Hills Reserve Sauvignon Blanc - New Zealand

Lawson Dry Hills Reserve Sauvignon Blanc – New Zealand

Lawson Dry Hills Reserve Sauvignon Blanc and vegetable stir-fry

Lawson Dry Hills Reserve Sauvignon Blanc and vegetable stir-fry